The Essential Karate Book

<B><I>The Essential Karate Book</I> is an illustrated, informative guide to the techniques, philosophy and practice of karate.</B><BR><BR>With 20 chapters covering practically every aspect of karate, this in-depth reference will assist students and instructors as they plot their course through karate instruction, benefiting those at all levels. <I>The Essential Karate Book</I> contains 200 diagrams mapping out moves, 300 color photographs, and a DVD, making it a comprehensive general karate reference for Western audiences. <BR><BR><B>Readers of this karate guide will learn about:</B><ul><li> The origins and history of karate</li><li> Required behavior, clothing and etiquette, as well as the fundamentals of karate and the different styles that share them</li><li> Stances, blocks, strikes and kicks</li><li> Preparing your body through warm-ups, stretching, and conditioning through karate-specific exercises</li><li> Kata grading and fighting (kumite) techniques and competition rules</li><